Album of the Day

Archie Bell & The Drells are best remembered for “Tighten Up,” which reached No.1 in 1968 when Bell was still enlisted in the U.S. Army. But the music of the Texas quartet offers R&B fans much to love beyond that hit, as their third album, THERE'S GONNA BE A SHOWDOWN, makes clear. The Atlantic collection was produced by future Philly soul kingpins Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff (who would lure Bell & The Drells to their own Philadelphia International label after this), and features four Hot 100 singles: “I Love My Baby,” “Girl You're Too Young,” “My Balloon's Going Up” and the title track. The inventive, danceable arrangements and sunny vibes on THERE'S GONNA BE A SHOWDOWN make it one of the most enjoyable soul albums of the late 1960s, and we'll give it another spin now to wish Archie Bell a happy birthday.